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Property entrepreneur Jake Elsley tweeted how he had been caught up in the police operation while locked in a church during choir practice.

He tweeted: "Please pray.

"Were locked in the church.

"Shooting outside and armed police outside.

"This choir practice just got very scary.

"Were all okay but all doors been locked and ordered to move away from windows and doors."

He later tweeted to say they had been 'evacuated'.

"Were at safety. All very taken aback, police everywhere but safe. Some are suggesting it was an anti-terror raid. We had a helicopter overhead, police outside the church door, and road was blocked both ends with unmarked cars.

"Was very freaky getting asked to move and lock all doors. We are safe - thank you all for your prayers and love."

The Met Police later confirmed that the operation was 'gang related' as part of Operation Trident.

They also said no firearms were discharged.

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A statement by the Met Police issued to MirrorOnline said: "At approximately 19:50hrs on Thursday, 9 November, detectives from the Trident and Area Crime Command, supported by firearms officers, carried out a pre-planned operation in the Colville Square area of Notting Hill.

"Five people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

"They have been taken to a south-west London police station where they remain in custody.

"A number of knives were recovered during the operation. Officers remain in the area."